Anthony Boyd Leads Cleveland Ford's Rise

Katherine Brooks ··5 Mins Read
Three men shaking hands inside a Ford dealership, all smiling and wearing hats.

Cleveland Ford is gaining attention well beyond Southeast Tennessee after a record-setting 2026 under General Manager Anthony Boyd.

Since taking the helm in January, Boyd has led an aggressive transformation focused on accountability, customer experience and operational excellence. The dealership has responded with multiple all-time performance records, including record finance and used-vehicle gross profit, while climbing nationally in Ford certified vehicle sales.

But Boyd says the dealership’s success is about more than numbers.

Under his leadership, Cleveland Ford has strengthened its commitment to the Cleveland community through partnerships with local schools, athletic programs, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and other community organizations.

“Our goal is bigger than selling cars,” Boyd said. “We want Cleveland Ford to be a dealership this community is proud to call its own.”

With record-breaking results, a renewed culture and an expanding community presence, Boyd and Cleveland Ford are building a model for what the modern hometown dealership can become.

A Hometown Dealership With National Attention

Cleveland Ford has served Cleveland, Tennessee, and the greater Chattanooga region since 2003. For more than two decades, it has been known simply as Cleveland's hometown Ford dealership. That identity has not changed. What has changed is the momentum behind it.

Since Boyd took the helm, the dealership has climbed nationally in Ford certified vehicle sales and posted multiple all-time performance records. Yet Boyd is quick to redirect the conversation away from figures alone.

“Our goal is bigger than selling cars,” Boyd said. “We want Cleveland Ford to be a dealership this community is proud to call its own.”

That philosophy has become the engine behind the dealership's growth. Boyd built his transformation on three principles: accountability, customer experience and operational excellence. Each department now shares a single focus: earning the customer's business and keeping it long after the sale.

Leadership Rooted in Accountability

Boyd's leadership style is direct and measurable. He believes performance and people are not competing priorities. They reinforce each other. Under his direction, Cleveland Ford has cultivated a culture where continuous improvement is expected and where every team member understands how their work shapes the customer's experience.

This approach has produced tangible results. Cleveland Ford now handles sales, finance, service, parts and collision support under one roof, giving customers a true one-stop ownership experience. When a buyer drives off the lot, the relationship does not end. It continues through service visits, warranty support and the everyday needs of vehicle ownership.

The dealership's complimentary Lifetime Warranty on new and qualifying pre-owned vehicles reflects that mindset. So does its Love It or Leave It Exchange program and flexible financing designed for a wide range of credit histories. These are not gimmicks. They are commitments that keep customers coming back.

The Strength of Hudson Automotive Group

Part of what makes Cleveland Ford different is the balance it has struck. It combines the resources of a major automotive organization with the personal accountability of a hometown store.

Cleveland Ford is a proud member of Hudson Automotive Group, a third-generation, family-owned company founded in 1948. Hudson has grown into one of the nation's larger dealership groups, representing dozens of locations and brands across multiple states. Yet it has never lost sight of its core values: people, relationships, reputation and continuous improvement.

That backing gives Cleveland Ford greater inventory access, advanced technology and operational support. At the same time, the dealership retains its local identity. The simplest way to describe it is this: big-group resources, hometown relationships and a team that is invested in Cleveland.

Customers Who Travel to Cleveland

The proof of Cleveland Ford's customer-first culture shows up in the reviews. The dealership currently holds a 4.8 rating across more than 5,400 DealerRater reviews, along with strong ratings on Google, Cars.com and other platforms. These numbers reflect thousands of individual experiences.

One customer purchased remotely from Georgia after weeks of research. “I spent over a month researching the market,” the buyer wrote. “The Cleveland Ford experience was the best by far.” The dealership helped locate a limited-production vehicle and kept the process smooth from a distance.

Another buyer made the trip from Florida. “I drove from Florida to Tennessee to pick this vehicle up,” the customer said. “Everything was as expected when arrived and took delivery.” A third summed up the appeal in a single line: “Great service. I found exactly what I was looking for and the process was made simple for me.”

These testimonials point to something remarkable. Cleveland Ford is attracting customers from well beyond its local market, drawn by a reputation for ease, trust and follow-through.

Group of football players and coaches holding a large check on a field

Investing in the Community

For Boyd, business success is a means, not an end. The record-setting performance funds something larger: the dealership's investment in the people who make Cleveland home.

Under his leadership, Cleveland Ford has strengthened partnerships with local schools, athletic programs, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and other community organizations. The dealership does not simply do business in Cleveland. It invests in the students, athletes and families who define the town.

This is where Boyd's vision becomes clearest. A dealership can measure itself by vehicles sold, or it can measure itself by the difference it makes. Cleveland Ford is choosing both. The result is a level of local recognition and trust that competitors find difficult to duplicate.

A Model for the Modern Dealership

What Boyd and his team are building has implications beyond Southeast Tennessee. They are demonstrating that a dealership can be high-performing and community-driven at the same time. It can pursue excellence without losing warmth. It can grow without forgetting where it came from.

Cleveland Ford offers a broad Ford lineup, including the F-150, Bronco, Mustang and a growing selection of electric models. It provides new vehicles, quality pre-owned inventory, financing, parts and a full-service center. Behind every one of those offerings is a team driven by measurable standards and genuine relationships.

That combination is rare. It is also the reason Cleveland Ford is earning attention as an example of what the modern hometown dealership can become.

Experience Cleveland Ford for Yourself

If you are searching for the best car dealership in Cleveland, TN, there is a simpler way to find your next vehicle. Visit Cleveland Ford at 2496 South Lee Highway in Cleveland and discover a buying experience built around your time, your budget and your peace of mind. Explore the online inventory, schedule a service appointment or call the sales team at 423-813-8894 to start a conversation. Whether you live down the street or several states away, Cleveland Ford is ready to earn your business and keep it for years to come.

Explore More About Cleveland Ford

Connect with Cleveland Ford, Facebook, and read reviews on DealerRater.

Anthony BoydCleveland Fordcustomer experiencecommunity engagementFord certified sales

CEO Times Contributor

Katherine Brooks

Covers leadership, business strategy, entrepreneurship, and the people building innovative companies.


This article features partner, contributor, or branded content from a third party. Members of the CEO Times editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content. All views and opinions are those of the contributor alone.

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